Christmas Closedown

[spen666]

Not a political point but interested in when and where the move towards a closedown at Christmas came from

This year a lot of shops closed not only on Christmas Day, but also on Boxing Day.
Many people have had nearly 2 weeks off work over Christmas ( partly because of day of week Christmas falls this year)

As recently as the 1960s, it was common for football matches to take place on Christmas Day in front of large crowds.
Until 1974 london buses ran a substantial service on Christmas Day
Railways last ran a substantial service in 1964 on Christmas Day.

Other Christian countries do not seem to have as long a closedown as the UK

 

[icowden]

It's nice to have a break?

There are always some things open though. Our local Nisa is run by a Hindu family and they are always willing to give up Christmas day in favour or making an absolute killing as they are the only convenience store open for those bits you forgot or ran out of...

 

[Bromptonaut]

Shops closed on Boxing Day is pretty new. Aldi was the first big/national store I was aware of doing it. Several garden centres and B&M in Southport were closed too. Local shop in the village, by contrast, was open in the morning on Xmas Day.

Work wise closing down the whole shebang from Xmas Eve until 02 Jan is a rapidly spreading practice. Mostly driven by staff/facilities cost, including heating/lighting and security, saved I think. Used to be a good time to go in and catch up on stuff, or for some people, paid a full day to do nothing and slope off early.

When I started volunteering for CAB c2014 we'd be open until noon on Xmas Eve and have at least a skeleton team in for working days from 27 to 31st. Now mostly closed with exception of projects contractually obliged to follow (eg) DWP office days.

 

[Pblakeney]

I suspect the growth in Christmas break is directly proportional to the growth in flexi-holidays.
A few well chosen days either side of statutory days plus the weekend and you get the two weeks off.

 

[Ian H]

It does vary. Down here in the SW most things close. In Sarfeast London there were a lot more open for business, including an excellent Italian restaurant which opened throughout, including Christmas day.

 

[Psamathe]

Even back before I retired (early) in early 2000's we used to sort of closedown starting midday Christmas Eve and properly opening 1st working day of new year,. But we were not retail but B2B. In practice we didn't close but many took the time off and we used it as an opportunity to stock check, update computer systems, etc., things that risk disrupting operations during normal working times.

 

[Pblakeney]

Even back before I retired (early) in early 2000's we used to sort of closedown starting midday Christmas Eve and properly opening 1st working day of new year,. But we were not retail but B2B. In practice we didn't close but many took the time off and we used it as an opportunity to stock check, update computer systems, etc., things that risk disrupting operations during normal working times.

That reminds me of my shift in the maintenance department during my apprenticeship where I found out why that department was so sought after. The summer holidays were a complete shutdown when essential scheduled maintenance was carried out.
Double time plus time off in lieu for all statutory holidays was very attractive. Along with never ending O/T (1-1/2 & 2x) for unscheduled maintenance.

 

[TailWindHome]

In my time in retail c20 years ago there was a definite shift away from the big boxing day sale to discounting before xmas.

 

[Bazzer]

Based in an office, other than when I was working in a building which was open 24/7, the practice had been for at least three decades, to have at least early closing. Typically this would be 4pm running from Christmas Eve until the 1st of January and would be for the benefit of security and/or cleaning staff.
Largely because of self sufficiency, this had been a useful period to get on with some work without interruptions. However, the introduction of more and more technology, gradually made this more difficult.
For example, accessing programmes you didn't normally have access to, but which either contained information you required or performed specific functions. The increasing use of email, but the person/s you were corresponding with, either within or outside the organisation, were also on restricted hours or not even in. And because pretty much everything had become electronic and/or IT based if there was an IT problem, the IT help desk were there to help. But they too were on restricted staff and hours. So an already limited hours day could be completely screwed.
If everything came together, it could be brilliant. No, or far fewer interuptions and a much more pleasant journey to and from work. But with each year the potential hurdles which could be hit, grew. Gradually the number of people attending during the Christmas/New Year period diminished which created it's own cycle.

 

[Beebo]

We have to keep a skeleton staff in the office.
I am workimg tomorrow but not today.

 

[Rusty Nails]

The post Christmas gap was always my favourite time in work. Very few people in, plenty of uninterrupted time to clear the desk of work/correspondence that should have been done earlier in the year and to start off with an empty in tray for the next year. The organisation I worked for could not close down and I was lucky I was not in a customer facing role where I would not have had the same luxury.

 

[Ian H]

I t was easier for us if Christmas and New Year were at opposite ends of the week. We'd just shut for the week - plus a Monday bank holiday. It was usually time for a tidy up and a bit of maintenance. I got carried away one year and stripped down our oldest press to replace a couple of worn-out cams. It took a few days, and the tension when I first fired it up afterwards, hoping I'd got the timing right and there wouldn't be an almighty bang. It all worked and a few years later we sold it to a guy in Jordan.
It was one of these (v old technology now)-

 

[spen666]

I t was easier for us if Christmas and New Year were at opposite ends of the week. We'd just shut for the week - plus a Monday bank holiday. It was usually time for a tidy up and a bit of maintenance. I got carried away one year and stripped down our oldest press to replace a couple of worn-out cams. It took a few days, and the tension when I first fired it up afterwards, hoping I'd got the timing right and there wouldn't be an almighty bang. It all worked and a few years later we sold it to a guy in Jordan.
It was one of these (v old technology now)-
View attachment 11850

As Christmas is 7 days earlier than New Year, how does it work in your employment? Did you have a different calendar to the rest of the country with fewer days between Christmas and New Year

 

[AndyRM]

Having a shutdown is a good thing I reckon.

The college where my good lady works introduced it a couple of years ago, turning all internal servers off on Christmas Adam. It wasn't particularly well communicated though and annoyed people, then there was a complete overload when people logged back in (or tried to).

 

[BoldonLad]

Cannot say I noticed any change to be honest:

Our local "corner shop" (run by an. Asian family) was business as usual throughout.

Our local ASDA (normally 24/6 plus 6 hours on Sunday) closed for Christmas Day, reopened Sunday Hours on Boxing Day, then, back to "normal"

Bus services were reduced/noe existent, but, my trip to the pub, to consume too much alcohol was saved by Daughter No3 why taxied myself, her husband, another son-in-law and a "prospective" son-in-law there and back. To be fair, I do not. recall too much of the return journey.